Lifestyle

From Viet Bac to Hanoi: Tracing Ho Chi Minh’s Historic Revolutionary Path

12 October, 2025

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THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi transformed into a vibrant sea of red, adorned with flags, lanterns, flowers, and banners in both Vietnamese and foreign languages. The streets echoed with powerful messages: “Vietnam for the Vietnamese,” “Down with French Colonialism,” “Independence or Death,” and “Support President Ho Chi Minh.”

Approximately one million people converged at Ba Dinh Square for a monumental national celebration. Here, President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.

This awe-inspiring scene is part of the cai luong (Vietnamese Southern reformed theater) production titled From Viet Bac to Hanoi, set to grace the stage at the Hanoi Opera House on August 11–12.

Presented by the Vietnam National Traditional Opera Theatre, the production is based on playwright Nguyen The Ky’s script, crafted to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2).

Playwright Nguyen The Ky discusses the cai luong piece. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Adapted from Volume 3 of Nuoc Non Van Dam (The Mighty Country), the play chronicles President Ho Chi Minh’s journey after embracing Marxism–Leninism. It highlights his founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam and his return to the homeland in 1941 to lead the revolution.

Through this captivating performance, audiences will gain profound insights into President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary endeavors. The narrative explores his activities in the northern mountain provinces of Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, and Thai Nguyen, as well as his border crossings into China. There, he coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party and assessed the Kuomintang government’s situation.

The play also depicts his arrest and subsequent imprisonment for over a year by Chiang Kai-shek’s regime in various jails. It culminates in his triumphant return to Hanoi, where he led the resistance for independence. The production concludes with the iconic moment of him reading the Declaration of Independence.

According to playwright Nguyen The Ky, President Ho Chi Minh embodied boundless patriotism, deep compassion for the people, and an unwavering commitment to national unity. His simplicity and humility belied his profound greatness, as his ideals and virtues were manifested through concrete, practical actions, often performed quietly and without fanfare.

Director Trieu Trung Kien presents the cai luong piece to the media. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Staying true to the novel’s historical narrative, director Trieu Trung Kien maintains its chronological storytelling while ensuring a seamless dramatic flow. The third part of the play spans the years 1941–1945, a period when Vietnam’s revolution, though outwardly quiet, was simmering beneath the surface, awaiting the opportune moment to erupt.

“The greatest challenge was condensing five years of history across a vast geographic scope, with a large cast of characters and intricate, interwoven events, all while keeping the story engaging, vivid, and convincing,” Kien remarked.

Casting the role of President Ho Chi Minh proved to be another formidable task. After working with four candidates, the director ultimately selected actor Van Thuan.

“Initially, I was overwhelmed with anxiety and sleepless nights, as this role presented an immense challenge,” Thuan confessed. “However, I gradually gained confidence and determination to embody the character. I trained rigorously, focusing on voice, posture, mannerisms, and especially capturing Uncle Ho’s unique aura to portray him as authentically as possible.”

A scene from the cai luong piece No nuoc non, the first part of the series dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh. Photo courtesy of the theater

From 2022 to 2025, the Literature Publishing House and Lien Viet Culture and Communication Joint Stock Company printed and published a 5-volume historical novel titled Nuoc non van dam (The Mighty Country) by writer Nguyen The Ky.

Director Trieu Trung Kien and playwright Hoang Song Viet, alongside artists from the Vietnam Cai Luong Theater (now the Vietnam National Traditional Theater), planned to adapt and stage five parts of this epic novel into five theatrical pieces.

Part 1: No nuoc non (Dedicate to the Country) was introduced to the public in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and various provinces across the country from 2022 to the present. It has been performed over 100 times on wooden floors, television, and radio.

Part 2: Lenh denh bon bien (Adrift) is currently in the staging plan.

Part 3: From Viet Bac to Hanoi was prioritized and premiered to the public on August 11–12 at the Hanoi Opera House, effectively celebrating the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day on September 2 (1945–2025).